Helen Banta ’25 and Ruby Becker ’25 study historic plant with classics professor Jake Morton to understand ancient Druid culture

The fusion of ancient history and modern practice took center stage last summer, thanks to an innovative research project spearheaded by Jake Morton, assistant professor of classics. Collaborating with two Student Research Partners (SRPs), Helen Banta ’25 and Ruby Becker ’25, Morton delved into the cultural significance of woad — a plant historically used to dye fabrics and skin. His research aims to offer fresh insights into ancient Druid culture as well as modern dyeing techniques.

The project stems from a single sentence written by Julius Caesar in The Gallic War, which describes Druids dyeing their skin blue with woad. Morton, with his deep interest in the ancient world, wanted to explore how understanding the ritualistic process of creating woad dye for skin might impact the reading of the passage.

“I care about woad as a classics professor,” said Morton. “Creating a material from woad that will persist on the skin is a process, and understanding that process will help scholars understand historical Druid practices.” 

Woad was also used as a fabric dye, until it was eventually supplanted by indigo. Part of Morton’s research is motivated by the desire to understand why indigo became the preferred dyeing agent.

“Woad was an important dye in the Middle Ages,” said Morton. “Then indigo came and woad died out. Why? Because it was better? ‘Better’ in what way?”

To carry out this research, Morton, Banta, and Becker worked closely with the local Get Bentz Farm and Badgerface Fiber. The farm allows students to experiment with growing and processing woad. Morton emphasized the importance of this local collaboration, noting that it connects Carleton with the rich agricultural and fiber arts traditions of the region.

“I’m really into getting Carls involved with the local Northfield community, and getting local farms and shepherds involved at Carleton,” Morton said. “We live in this amazing place of farms and shepherds; getting those people at Carleton and Carls involved with those people is really important for me.”

Together, Morton and his SRPs planned out experiments to conduct at the farm. Then, Banta and Becker enacted those plans at the farm, spending long hours with wool and woad.

“Helen and Ruby [did] incredible work,” Morton said. “They’re applying their academic training in real-world experiments, working with an active dye garden, and using wool freshly shorn from sheep to test their dyeing techniques. This hands-on experience is invaluable, whether they go on to pursue academic research or continue with fiber arts.”

The project has three main deliverables. Banta and Becker will produce an article for a modern dye and fiber arts journal, aimed at helping home dyers understand and engage with woad processing techniques. This piece will provide a practical guide, rooted in historical methods, that makes woad dyeing accessible to contemporary audiences.

They will also contribute to a detailed historical analysis of woad, exploring its significance from ancient times through the Middle Ages. This “potted history” will serve as both a scholarly resource and an educational tool for those interested in the plant’s historical uses.

Building upon those two deliverables, the group’s findings covering the implications their research has for the Caesar passage will be published in the EXARC Journal. With the support of the Carleton Humanities Center’s Trustee Humanities Endowed Student Research Fund, this project is not only advancing scholarly knowledge but also fostering a deeper appreciation for the historical roots of modern practices.